In-service data for a large database system at the Rolls-Royce
marine business site was analysed to investigate whether easy to
obtain metrics from an information system can be used to predict
likely future maintenance requirements. Graphical methods were
compared and contrasted with more rigorous statistical techniques.
It was found that the graphical methods could give a useful insight
of possible trends and also helped identify and track the influence
of external shocks to the system. The application of regression
analysis was less successful with no statistically significant
relationships detected. It is concluded that the flexibility and
adaptability of the graphical methods are likely to be more useful
to project managers.